Superintendent Daniel McGarry used his Nov. 12 report to recognize student and staff achievements in the arts and to raise concerns about school funding and staffing challenges following the pandemic.

McGarry presented a certificate to Avalee Goldner of Drexel Hill Middle School for earning second place in the Philadelphia Young Playwrights festival's theater-kids division. He also recognized the Upper Darby High School Marching Royals for state and national placements: the band earned the 2024 USBands Pennsylvania 5A state championship (fourth consecutive year) and won bronze at the USBands National Championship, with additional captions including best overall percussion.

"Student achievement is directly linked to proper funding," McGarry said as he noted the district continues to face funding shortfalls and a national teacher shortage that has made staffing difficult. He said the district remains short "millions of dollars every single year" and cited news reports that future funding may be cut.

McGarry also praised new staff and leaders in arts and music, including the district's new supervisor of art, theater and humanities and new band director Doug Ballard, and credited long-serving teachers who have shaped district programs.

Why it matters: The superintendent's remarks combined celebration of student success with a reminder that resource constraints and staffing shortages remain pressing challenges for district programming and services.